Friday 29 June 2012

Compass Points 5


Compass Points
Your weekly round up of publishing news, publicity information and trivia!

Who doesn’t love a bit of Mick Jagger? (but which bit?) Mick is the definitive look at the leader of the world’s greatest rock-and-roll band on the eve of its 50th anniversary, and is destined to become the definitive biography of Jagger. It contains some truly sensational material with stunning insights and revelations – and is going to be serialised in the Daily Mail on the 8th July! This is sure to attract a lot of attention ready for the book’s publication on the 10th July – so make sure you have plenty of stock – it’s going to be the biography every Stones fan must read!

The Ship, the Lady and the Lake by Meriel Larken is the extraordinary story of a Victorian steamship – in the Andes! In 1862 the English steamship Yavari was taken to bits, and shipped to South America. In an epic logistical feat it was carried in thousands of pieces 12,500 ft up the Andes to Lake Titicaca – which is the world’s highest waterway. The ship was then reconstructed there, and for over a century plied her trade up and down the lake. But by 1985 she was a sad rotting hulk – until a young Englishwoman found her, and determined to restore her to her former glory transforming her into a tourist attraction in the Andes. This fascinating story is getting a lot of review coverage – including this week’s two page article in The Spectator which called it “a gripping tale, a personal adventure and an inspiring story of what single minded dedication can achieve. Unusually for this kind of account it’s also a great deal more.  It’s a lovely price of writing, lively and imaginative in style; full of action.”

During the Jubilee weekend much attention was focussed on the Thames and the river pageant. You can see a very different side to this great river – and many other London waterways in Circle Line – yes it’s about boats not trains! In 2009, sailor and Londoner Steffan Meyric Hughes thought he’d try to be the first man to sail and row around all round London in a small boat. Along the way, he discovers the truth behind boats, the sea and rivers, the history of the great city’s future and great secrets of the mysterious Thames: wrecks, bombs and intrigue. Circle Line is the story of a unique journey on forgotten waterways, an investigation into the way we live today; and a humorous, sometimes moving trip down memory lane.

For those lucky enough to have sunshine rather than monsoons at the moment – your thoughts may be turning to gardening. Two new books – Garden Crafts for Children and The Balcony Gardner are getting lots of review coverage – have a look at this piece in last week’s Mirror with some great ideas on creating child friendly gardens that appeal to grown ups too!

Do you feel fantastic? No? Well it’s possible to change that in just nine days! Nine Days to Feel Fantastic by John Whitman has just been serialised in the Express – get hold of a copy to find out how!

Or do you feel you need more “ing” in your life? More what?! The top tips of self help guru Gabrielle Bernstein have just been published in Fabulous Magazine (part of The Sun on Sunday) which is read by over 2 million women! And Gabrielle was also on Radio 2’s Steve Wright in the Afternoon show – again plugging her new book!

Is it possible that we’re raising a generation of children who won’t know how to read books at all? No – I’m not talking about declining literacy standards – I’m talking about children who don’t even realise you have to turn the pages of a book – because they’re so used to their touch screen iPads (other tablets are available.) Far fetched? Maybe not – have a look at this popular YouTube video of the baby that thinks a magazine is just a computer that doesn’t work properly!

We have been inundated with requests to read the first couple of chapters of The Gingerbread House by Carin Gerhardsen – brand new Scandinavian crime fiction published on 25 October in the UK – many apologies if you haven’t got your chapters yet - we will get them out to you as soon we can!  If you’d like to add your name to the list of booksellers who will be in on the next big thing, then email Pat@compass-dsa.co.uk.

This newsletter is sent weekly to over 400 booksellers. If you would like to order any of the titles mentioned, then please click here to go to the Compass New Titles Website.

That’s all for now folks, more next week!

Friday 15 June 2012

Compass Points 4


Compass Points
Your weekly round up of publishing news, publicity information and trivia!

Do you like Scandinavian crime fiction? Are your shelves groaning with the weight of your Stieg Larssons, Jo Nesbos and box sets of The Killing and The Bridge? But have you heard of Carin Gerhardsen? No? Well you soon will. She is currently Sweden’s number one fiction author – and has sold over half a million books in Europe. Her novel The Gingerbread House is published on 25 October in the UK.  It comes from the same Swedish publisher – and even the same editorial team – as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – so it’s definitely one to watch. If you would like a free proof copy of the opening chapters, then email Pat@compass-dsa.co.uk.

And while we are on the subject of superb translated fiction; The Whispering Muse by the maverick Icelandic author Sjón had a terrific review in last Saturday’s Independent: "This writer inspires a devoted followingthe effect of The Whispering Muse is prismatic: the reader feels that just beneath the surface there are strange and luminous things moving, leaving a series of small hidden detonations." It’s due to get another great review in this Saturday’s Guardian (23 June).

Which title coming in July is starting to get a real publicity BUZZ about it?! Of course it’s A to Bee  (see what I did there) by James Dearsley with forthcoming coverage confirmed in The Daily Mail, The Lady, Grow Your Own Magazine and many more. The “how to be self sufficient” book market is a very fast growing one  and this account of a total beginner’s first year as a beekeeper is a most entertaining read – have a look at a short film he’s made all about his experiences.

Craig Summers had one of the most dangerous jobs in television. His task? Keeping adventurous celebrities alive! His job as the BBC’s security adviser took him to war zones, scenes of natural disaster and big international sporting events, as well as on undercover operations involving child trafficking, football hooliganism and narcotics. Using his extensive military experience – he served with the British forces – he has been the right hand man, confidant and enforcer to many adventurous celebrities including Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Gary Lineker, John Simpson and Matthew Pinsent. Bodyguard is just published – and is a really thrilling tale. There is a big feature this month in Nuts magazine – and you can find out more in this film.

The world’s fascination with the world’s most enigmatic movie star has never abated. A new biography: Greta Garbo – Divine Star by David Bret reveals for the first time what really happened during the so-called missing periods of her life. It has just been serialised in the Daily Express.

The school holidays are fast approaching – and with it comes the demand from parents for wholesome activities to do with their kids! The Homemade Home for Children by Sania Pell is a child-friendly collection of 50 projects for parents to make for and with their offspring. Sania’s previous book, The Homemade Home sold over 27,000 copies – and this new title has had widespread national publicity since its publication date in April - from Elle Decoration, YOU Magazine, Junior and Country Living. The English Home and Good Homes magazines are both running extracts in their August issues.

This newsletter is sent weekly to over 400 booksellers. If you would like to order any of the titles mentioned, then please click here to go to the Compass New Titles Website.

That’s all for now folks, more next week!

Friday 8 June 2012

Compass Points 3


Compass Points
Your weekly round up of publishing news, publicity information and trivia!

What have we got in store for you this week? Well, at Compass we are all getting very excited about a book coming up in October called A Day in the World. On 15 May 15 people all over the world picked up their cameras and photographed their daily lives. Participants ranged from professionals to amateurs; school children to farmers, office workers to astronauts! They sent their many thousands and thousands of photos to the website ADAY.org – whose mission is to use the power of photography to create, share and inspire perspectives on daily life – today and tomorrow. And the most thought proving photos of all will be chosen for the book, which is sure to contain some truly amazing pictures. We can’t wait! You can already preview some of the images on the website – have a look!

Do you like spy related fiction – John Le Carre? James Bond? Spooks? Or would you prefer to read about the real thing? Many people thought that the organisation SMERSH was just a figment of Ian Fleming’s imagination – but now a new book - SMERSH: Stalin’s Secret Weapon by Vadim Birstein proves otherwise. It has just won the inaugural St Ermin’s Hotel Intelligence Book of the Year Award 2012.The judges found it “a very absorbing, thoroughly readable, extraordinarily detailed account of an organisation which had a terrible, bloody history about which the author tells us every compelling detail.”

It’s Father’s Day! Are you a dad yourself? Or do you want a gift for your own dad – or husband? Have you read Commando Dad – a guide to all the basic skills you will need on your parenting mission! Lorraine Kelly called it “one of the best parenting books I’ve ever read”.  Check it out!

“When most people hear the words ‘Enoch Powell’ they think of the phrase ‘rivers of blood’. It was Powell’s misfortune — partly self-inflicted — that his monumental contribution to political ideas should still be eclipsed by a phrase that he never uttered, misquoted from the speech that still defines him. Powell was born 100 years ago this Saturday. In time, he would become the most brilliant classical scholar of his generation at Cambridge, the youngest professor in the British Empire, the youngest Brigadier in the Army, an MP, a Cabinet Minister and one of the most loved and hated men in Britain.” These are the words of Simon Heffer in a full page review this week in The Daily Mail of Enoch at 100:  A Re-evaluation of the Life, Politics and Philosophy of Enoch Powell which is getting an enormous amount of press coverage.

When will this wet and windy weather ever stop? Who hasn’t dreamed of abandoning grey old Britain, and the bookselling world completely, and flying off to France to run your own vineyard? Well Grape Expectations describes doing exactly that, and The Daily Mail are running an extract this Saturday – which will no doubt leave their two million readers keen for more –make sure you have it on display!

Mind you, if the weather ever does improve, Punk Publishing have got the ideal books to help you make the most of the British summer! Beautiful Buggy Walks is getting lots of coverage in Prima Baby, Practical Parenting, Sainsbury’s Magazine and on Mumsnet, while Cool Camping Kids is getting a big feature in the Sunday Times Travel section at the end of the month.

In Case You Missed:
Margaret Rhodes, the Queen’s cousin and author of The Final Curtsey was on Desert Island Discs this week:
Another chance to enjoy the Julian Smith rap on YouTube

All of the titles mentioned here are available to order from the  Compass New Titles website.

That's all for now folks - more next week!

Friday 1 June 2012

Compass Points 2

Compass Points
Your weekly round up of publishing news, publicity information and trivia!

Hope all enjoyed their Jubilee jubilations! As you would expect. The Final Curtsey - the bestselling memoir by the Queen's cousin Margaret Rhodes has been getting a right royal load of coverage - there's been a double page spread in The Mail On Sunday, a documentary on ITV and Margaret was on Desert Island Discs on Sunday - which was repeated this morning! Phew! Britain has gone monarchy mad this week - so make sure this book is on prominent display; the Liverpool Echo picked it as their top Jubilee read!
http://www.compassdsanewtitles.co.uk/book/final-curtsey,-the-/2114

You're never too old for an adventure! How true, how true. The Hundred Year Old Man who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared is an international publishing sensation - which has sold over two million copies across the globe. Check out the promotional video on YouTube
The UK edition is published in July by Hesperus - have you ordered plenty of stock and POS?!

Do you think Annabel Karmel has a stranglehold on the children's cookery market? Well think again - Amanda Grant’s Cook School has just beaten her to win the Best Family Cookbook category of the Junior Magazine Design Awards 2012. The book features in the magazine's June issue and Macmillan are busy adding the Award Winner sticker to all of their stock now! Should be a sure fire summer seller ...
"At last a book that fills the gap between play cooking and real cooking, giving children dishes that are fun to make and the skills they need to make them, graded to their ages and abilities." Penelope Leach

It must be a good week for our cookery titles, as How to Make Bread by Emmanuel Hadjiandreou has just been awarded the much coveted Jeremy Round Award for Best First Book in the Guild of Food Writers Awards. These awards are the culinary equivalent of the BAFTAs and are the most prestigious in the field of food writing.

Last week we mentioned Harry Lipkin, P.I. The World's Oldest Detective by renowned Private Eye writer, Barry Fantoni . Publicity is building for this brand new crime novel - there's a great profile of Barry in The Independent this week.
And the publishers (Polygon) have released a very snazzy online trailer for the book, which you can find on YouTube
And all the additional information you need is on our website as always!

At a time when investigative journalism is coming under such fire - it's interesting to remind ourselves that it's far from a modern phenomenon. Muckraker - the scandalous life and times of Britain's very first such journalist - W. Sydney Robinson - is getting a lot of press coverage. The Mail has just given it a rave review calling it a "timely, well written biography of the brilliant, flawed Victorian journalist" and the Sunday Times said "Closely researched and briskly written, it does an excellent job of explaining one of the most extraordinary individuals in journalistic history." It's a highly entertaining read.

All of the titles mentioned here are available to order from the Compass New Titles website. www.compassdsanewtitles.co.uk

That's all for now folks - more next week!